A fledgling magpie, who was rescued from certain death after he fell from his nest, has become an international star after he made his home with the family who saved him.

Mike the Magpie has lived with Steve Rostron and his partner Janine MacLean at their Sabden home since they discovered him in May on the ground while out for a walk.

Mike the magpie perches on the shoulder of his owner Steve Rostron.

It was the couple's whippet, Boo, who noticed the stricken chick on the ground behind an old telephone exchange box.

Steve said: "It was clear I had no way of getting him back into the nest and I couldn't just leave him there as he would certainly have died."

Steve raced home and returned to the scene with Janine armed with a box which they scooped the stricken chick into.

Not sure exactly what to do the couple made the magpie a makeshift home in box on a windowsill where he lived for the next three months.

Teacher Janine adores her pet Mike the magpie who is pictured perched on her head while she does some marking

The baby bird thrived and grew on a diet of mealworms but the couple decided it was time for him to fly the nest when he started behaving aggressively towards both Steve and Boo.

Steve, who works from home as an artist, said: "He would peck at us and it was becoming a problem although Boo did not react at all to Mike."

It was heartbreaking for Janine, an English and Media teacher at Nelson's Marsden Heights Community College, as she had become very attached to Mike who is also very affectionate with her, nestling on her shoulder and head.

After releasing Mike into the open and watching him fly away the couple never dreamed he would return. But he was back the next day and eager to see the family, including Steve's daughter Isla, who is 11 and Janine's son, Alex (18).

Mike the magpie had a good peck at Burnley Express and Clitheroe Advertiser videographer Kelvin Stuttard when he tried to film him.

Steve said: "We couldn't believe it when he came back and started flying along with me on a walk with Boo like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"After doing some research we discovered that birds like magpies and crows are highly intelligent and have the brain capacity of a five or six year old.

"And that is exactly how Mike behaves, he is cheeky and full of energy."